Wallsend Council was incorporated on 27 February 1874. The municipality proclaimed was a square area of 240 chains (3 miles) on each side.

Commencing at the south-eastern corner stone of the Wallsend Coal Company’s Estate, at the south-eastern corner of J. B. Weller’s 320 acres grant; and bounded thence on part of the east by the east boundary of that grant and part of the east boundary of J. B. Weller’s 1,200 acres grant, being in all a line bearing north 120 chains, and forming partly the west boundaries of the Municipal Districts of Lambton and Waratah; on the north by a line west, passing through the 1,200 acres grant aforesaid, H. and C. Cowper and G. Miller’s 1,280 acres grant (in trust), and A. W. Scott’s 598 acres grant, 240 chains; on the west by part of the boundary dividing A. W. Scott’s 598 acres aforesaid, and W. C. Wentworth’s 640 acres, and its southerly prolongation, passing through W. C. Wentworth’s 986 acres grant and Newcastle Wallsend Company’s 181 acres and part of 166 acres, being a line bearing south in all 240 chains ; on the south by a line bearing east, passing through Newcastle Wallsend Company’s 166 acres aforesaid, and 159 acres, and J. Weller’s 2,560 acres grant, about 240 chains to the western boundary of Morehead and Young’s 320 acres, portion 16, parish of Newcastle; and on the remainder of the east by part of the west boundary of that portion and the west boundary of Morehead and Young’s portion 15, and part of the western boundary of the Municipal District of Lambton, being the west boundary of Morehead and Young’s portion 14, and W. A. Steel’s 80 acres, bearing northerly in all 120 chains, to the point of commencement.
NSW Government Gazette, 27 February 1874.

1904 electoral boundaries map, with the 1874 Wallsend Municipality boundary added. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.

The original boundary of Wallsend Council included areas of the following current suburbs

Fletcher
Maryland
Shortland
Birmingham Gardens
Jesmond
Lambton
New Lambton Heights
Rankin Park
Elermore Vale
Wallsend

Wallsend Council area outlined in white, with the present day suburbs shaded in various colours.

In December 1876 the northern part of Wallsend municipality was separated to form the Borough of Plattsburg, leaving a reduced area for Wallsend Council.